Dr. Jim Sarji explains the process of dental implants. 

The process of getting implants requires a number of visits over several months or in some instances may happen quicker.

The dentist will take impressions (molds) of the patients jaw and teeth in order to determine the amount of bone available for placing an implant, the amount of gum tissue and the spacing that is available for an implant.

The dentist will anesthetize the patient and the then the implant will be surgically placed into the bone. This will then be allowed to heal and the process known as osseointegration will take place. This process was discovered by a Swedish orthopedic doctor Dr Per-Inge Branemark and this method of bone fusing to titanium paved the way for the dental implant revolution. This may take up to six months for the titanium to integrate with the bone. Depending on the type the type of dental implant placed patients may require a second surgery in order to place the ‘post’. This ‘post’ also known as an abutment will hold the artificial tooth or ‘crown’ in place. With most dental implants the post and anchor are already attached and they are placed at the same time.

Once the healing process is finished the artificial teeth or ‘crowns’ are made and are then fitted to the post part of the anchor. The dentist may take several fittings to complete this process to make sure it is correct. Once the healing process is complete, the dentist will securely attach the artificial tooth or ‘crown’ to the implant. This will provide excellent chewing ability and will feel like natural teeth for the patient. The benefits of dental implants outweigh dentures The new implant will support your teeth firmly and safely.

• Your new implants look and are aesthetically pleasing.
• The dental implant candidate will no longer have pain while eating or talking.
• Bone loss is the jawbone is reduced significantly. Patients experience more than 50% bone loss on average after the removal of a tooth. The dental implant placed in the jawbone will prevent progressive bone atrophy.
• Implants have a proven scientific basis and titanium is the only metal which the human body does not reject and on which dental implants can be placed.

In modern day dentistry, dental implants are the closest substitute to natural teeth and natural roots. The dentist will place the implant directly into the jawbone using high tech computer software and the implants are held by anchor shaped screws.

If you are interested in getting dental implants then make a free consultation with Dr Sarji to discuss your treatment options. If you are interested in learning more about dental before visiting Dr Sarji the read on. Dental implants will require proper dental hygiene and regular dental visits. With proper care and regular check-ups they can last 10, 15 or 20 years.

Single Tooth Replacement

If a patient is missing a single tooth then it can easily be replaced with one implant and a cosmetic crown. In this case once the procedure has been performed we have replaced both the natural tooth and the root therefore preventing further bone loss across the jawbone.

Are there any advantages of a single tooth replacement over a bridge?

The main advantage of a single tooth dental implant over a bridge is the fact that we do not have to sacrifice the health of the adjacent teeth. Another treatment for single tooth loss is a tooth supported fixed bridge that requires adjacent teeth to be ground down. These adjacent teeth will support the cemented bridge.

Once the single tooth implant has been placed and once the crown has been attached we have now replaced the tooth root and preserved the bone preventing further bone loss. Unfortunately with a bridge, some of the patients bone that previously surrounded the tooth begins to deteriorate. This is known as resorption. Once dental implants have been placed they become fused with your jawbone and prevent the moving or shifting of neighboring teeth and work to keep the jawbone healthy and in one place. Single tooth replacement dental implants can be more esthetic and easier to clean than a bridge. With dental bridges gums can recede around the bridge which can lead to an obvious defect once the base of the metal bridge becomes exposed. Once resorption of the bone takes place underneath the bridge it can lead to an unattractive smile and the cement that holds the bridge in place can come out. This is the point where bacteria can enter and decay can form on the teeth that anchor and hold the bridge in place. Here the benefits of single tooth dental implant replacement are obvious.

How Will The Dentist Place The Dental Implant?

Dental Implants Park Slope - Advanced Gentle Dentistry of Park Slope - Jim Sarji, DDS from jim sarji, dds on Vimeo.

Initially after carefully diagnosing your suitability for a dental implants the dentist will numb the area and then remove gum tissue in order to expose the bone. He will then carefully and surgically place an implant which looks similar to a screw into the jawbone. This will then be covered up by gum tissue and will be allowed to undergo a healing process that may last two to six months. The implant becomes fused to the bone and will form an anchor for your tooth. A temporary tooth replacement can be given and can be worn over the implant site.

An occasional procedure is sometimes necessary to uncover the implant and attach an extension. This small metal post which is known as an abutment is oen of the final steps and creates the foundation on which your new tooth will be placed. The dentist will allow your gums to heal for a couple of weeks following this procedure.

In some instances a one stage implant system will be used that does not require this second step. In this case the implant already has the extension attached. At the time of your procedure Dr Sarji will advise you on what is the best method for your implant.

The last step is the placement of the crown. This will be created especially for you by Dr Sarji and will be attached to the abutment. As a patient with a new dental implant you will immediately experience the confidence to restore your smile and your dental implant will function like a normal tooth and will restore your ability to speak and chew.

Implant Supported Dentures In Park Slope Brooklyn

When patients wear regular dentures there are a number of complications that can arise that would create a better argument for the use of implant retained dentures. With normal dentures these can cause bone deterioration and can leave a space that can cause complications such as loose fitting, rubbing against the gums and sometimes clicking sounds. Implant supported dentures are held in place by through attachment to dental implants. The use of implant supported dentures is most often used on the lower jaw where removable dentures are harder to stabilize but they are also used in the upper jaw.

In the case of implant supported dentures they snap into place on top of dental implants. This can provide a robust fit that is held securely and can eliminate slippage without the need to dental adhesives. The real benefit of implant supported dentures is that they can be removed for regular cleaning or if the patient wishes they can have fixed implant supported dentures. These will function as permanent teeth.

What Are Bar-Retained Dentures

Some patient receives three or more dental implants placed into their jaw bone. Dentist call these types of implants bar-retained dentures due to the fact that they have metal bars that run along the ridge of the gum line between each of the implants. The bar-retained dentures are called such as the dentures actually rest on the bars and are strategically attached with metal clips. This bar holds the dentures in place without the need for steel studs that are used in ball retained dentures. A lot of patients opt for this alternative as it eliminates the rubbing issue and the discomfort that can be there when patients have removable traditional dentures.

What Are Ball Retained Dentures

Another type of denture is the ball retained denture which can also be known as stud attached dentures. These types of dentures function with a ball and socket mechanism. The base of the denture has several has several sockets. These sockets line up exactly with the balls placed on the dental implants that are placed into the jawbone. These have an extremely secure fit and are highly unlikely to move or slip. With these ball retained dentures the patient’s ability to smile confidently and to eat and speak has been restored.

What Type Of Patient Is A Candidate For A Full Arch Implant Supported Bridge

If a patient is missing all of their teeth in the upper or lower jaw then they are more than likely a candidate for an implant supported bridge or overdenture. This will offer many advantages over traditional dentures. The patient can have the option of a permanent full bridge or even smaller bridges that can actually be attached to several dental implants. Or a prosthesis can be sued that is securely attached but can be removed for easy cleaning and hygiene. The prosthesis can be attached to two or more dental implants. The main benefit of implant supported dentures is that they require no dental adhesives to keep them in place. The option of a fixed bridge on implants has not always been available. In the past there was nothing that gave patients a fixed solution if they had lost all of their teeth. Due to advancements in dental technology it is now possible to replace a patients full jaw with dental implants using a fixed bridge. The fixed bridge allows for a rigid, fixed solution while at the same time looking like real natural teeth.

What Type Of Patient Is A Candidate For A Full Arch Implant Supported Bridge

They do not have to be taken in and out of your mouth. They allow you to eat and function as if you have natural teeth. They provide a fixed solution that can last a lifetime. They can prevent bone loss deterioration in your jaw and preserve your facial appearance. The take away the discomfort factor and embarrassing issues with loose fitting dentures. Dental Implants - Jim Sarji, DDS discusses "Staged Placement Restoration" and how a patient with removable dentures can have fixed teeth.

Q And A With Dr Sarji On Stage Implant Restoration

It is a well known fact that since the time of the Mayans man has always looked to resolve the problem of missing teeth. The Mayans actually attempted it with little success. However in 1959 a Swedish Orthopedic Surgeon  Per-Ingvar-Branemark discovered that bone fuses to titanium and was the only metal that the human body did not reject. This process was later named osseo-integration and paved the way to millions of Americans receiving dental implants and restoring their ability to chew and lead a normal healthy life. The problems associated with missing teeth can impact a patient’s personal and medical life. Missing teeth prevent individuals from smiling and a smile in America has always been viewed as your calling card. The other medical issues that can present themselves are bone loss in the jawbone where teeth have been removed and the inability to eat the foods they need to eat and to derive from them essential nutrition. It is estimated that bone loss around the jawbone when a tooth is removed can be as much as 25% in the first year due to the fact that the bone 'resorbs' (reabsorbs) into the body. From here bone loss continues and this can cause loss of definition in facial structure. Dr Jim Sarji, a renowned Park Slope dentist and the chief dentist at Park Slope Gentle is a big believer in restoring lost teeth as soon as they have been removed

Dr Sarji, how long have you been placing dental implants and giving patients full mouth restoration cosmetic dentistry?

I have been performing dental implant surgery for over a decade and have successfully placed hundreds of implants in patients of all ages. I undertook a special course at NYU in dental implantology and I have the additional accreditations for implantology. Few  dentists have this so patients must know that when they come here for dental implants they are in good hands.

Who do you see as being the perfect candidate for a dental implant?

We have seen many different types of patients here for dental implants, from teenagers with dental accidents in sports who have had to have dental implants placed to people in their 20's, 30's or 40's who maybe lost a molar after a failed root canal or an extraction and now have realized that they have overcome their fear of getting a dental implant and now want to take better care of their teeth. Many a time we get older patients in their 60's or 70's that have had dentures and now no longer wants dentures for a number of different reasons. A common complaint from denture wearing patients is the fact that they cannot eat the foods that they want to eat. Therefore by gaining fixed teeth they overcome this problem and restore their ability to smile. One of the problems that patient don't realize is that dentures can actually accelerate bone loss by wearing away the ridges of the bone where the dentures sit. This means that when a patient bites down or clenches his teeth it causes pressure to be placed on the ridge resulting in bone re-absorption. This can cause sore areas within the mouth, ulcers, can make chewing difficult and can be a never ending source of problems. Dental implants allow patient to have fixed teeth, to chew properly, the bone regrows around the dental implant as it becomes fused and eventually if facial definition has been lost it is gradually restored. The benefits here for a patient with dentures changing to dental implants are astounding. Not to mention wrinkles that can form around the mouth as bone loss accelerates.

What would you say to a patient who sounds unsure about the process?

For me this is a very routine process and in this day and age we have to grateful to medical technology and the fact that titanium will actually fuse to the bone. Losing a tooth or a number of teeth can be a traumatic and life changing incident. We are here to restore smiles. Teeth are basically a sign of how healthy the body is. Getting an implant can take as long as getting a filling. We put the patient under a simple local anasthetic and when we they leave they may experience slight discomfort that we will give them pain relievers for. For most patients recovery is 2-3 days if they are getting one to two implants. For other who are receiving 4 or 5 dental implants recovery is a little longer. Once they actually get the crown placed onto the implant many patients tell us that it was well worth it and that it has been a life changing experience.

What technology do you use a Advanced Gentle Dentistry of Park Slope that puts you ahead of the game.

Unfortunately technology is only as good as they dentist that is using it. It takes a significant amount of knowledge, expertise and judgment to place a dental implant successfully never mind a lot of experience. Our office is equipped with high tech sophisticated computer aided software, including an ICAT machine. This helps in placing the dental implant in the exact place. Not many dental offices have an ICAT machine and I would never recommend that a patient gets a dental implant in an office where the ICAT is not utilized in the dental implant process. List the other technology.

What would you say to a patient that is considering dental implants?

For an prospective dental implant patient I would advise them to come and see me for a consultation. What you will experience here is a high tech, health conscious dental practice where we treat the patient and not just the condition. Every patient is unique and we have many years of practice in helping patients overcome their fears. What I like to do is show the patient the technology that we will employ during the procedure and show them previous patients that had serious dental conditions and then show them what their teeth look like when they were transformed. The consultations to discuss dental implants are always free and we explain every part of the dental restoration process. If it is going to be a costly procedure then our staff on the front desk can assist you with all forms of insurance and will assist you in applying for financing. For us restoring teeth transforms smiles which transforms people lives and for us there is nothing more gratifying than giving a patient back their smile.

Jim Sarji, DDS discusses staged implant restoration - (takeN from our blog at www.dentistparkslope.blogspot.com)